Centre Scientifique Et Technique Du Batiment (cstb)

Centre Scientifique Et Technique Du Batiment

Isabelle Lacaze

Stéphane Moularat

Enric Robine

A method of detecting the presence of insects, including larvae, in an indoor environment, which includes the steps of (a) obtaining a sample of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); (b) separating the sampled VOCs; (c) detecting the presence or absence of 'target' VOCs from at least one category: 'category 1 VOCs'&#x2014;VOCs emitted independently of the support on which the insects develop and emitted only in an insect infestation VOCs, &#x201c;category 2 VOCs&#x201d;&#x2014;VOCs emitted independently of the support but may have biological origins other than insects, and &#x201c;category 3 VOCs&#x201d;&#x2014;VOCs emitted depending on the support and emitted only in an insect infestation; (d) calculating both an insect infestation index (&#x201c;3I&#x201d;) and a limit value (&#x201c;VL&#x201d;) based on the presence or absence of the target VOCs; and (e) comparing the &#x201c;3I&#x201d; and &#x201c;VL&#x201d; values. The environment is infested for a &#x201c;3I&#x201d; value strictly greater than the &#x201c;VL&#x201d; value.

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Chelles, France

Isabelle Lacaze